Soccer Store donate training equipment

Several boxes of football training equipment have been donated by our new friends at The Soccer Store this week.

New free kick mannequins, marker cones and Mitre footballs for our academy have been delivered.

The Soccer Store is the UK’s leading online supplier of specialist football equipment and goals.

They have been supplying to the football community for the last 15 years and have a reputation for quality equipment from trusted UK suppliers including Mitre, Diamond Football and Samba Sports.

“It is great to work with a club as prestigious as Motherwell,” Jack Hart from The Soccer Store said.

“We are sure that the football equipment provided will go down well in particular with the academy players at Motherwell, as they push to develop their football careers.”

Soccer Store stock a huge range of specialised training equipment for speed and agility training, set piece training and general fitness training.

Their equipment is not just used by football clubs, as many youngsters will use the goals and training equipment at home as they push to be like their heroes at Motherwell.

You can visit their website to check out their full range of football equipment and goals at thesoccerstore.co.uk.

Club

Club supports Rainbow Laces campaign

Monday 03 December 2018

Motherwell Football Club is showing its support for lesbian, gay, bi and trans players and fans by backing the Rainbow Laces campaign.

Rainbow Laces is Stonewall Scotland’s awareness project to change attitudes in sport and make sure that LGBT people are welcomed and accepted at all levels of the game.

Sadly, many lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people have a poor experience in sport and have experienced discrimination because of who they are. Research shows that almost half of LGBT people think that public sporting events, such as football matches, aren’t a welcoming space for them.

As well as our continued backing, our players will show their support on the pitch during Wednesday’s home match with Celtic.

“Football is a place where everyone should be accepted,” Motherwell captain Peter Hartley said of the campaign. “As a club, we want LGBT people to feel safe and welcome, both here and everywhere else in the game.

“Discrimination should not happen. We must all be role models and stand united to remove the stigma, stop abusive behaviour and make sure football is a welcome environment for all.”

Colin Macfarlane, Director of Stonewall Scotland, said: “We are delighted that SPFL clubs are supporting our Rainbow Laces campaign, and by doing so, standing with LGBT football fans across Scotland.

“We want to see fans make similar commitments and become active allies to LGBT people by creating a welcoming environment and challenging abuse. Many LGBT people want to take part in football, either as players or fans, but abuse from a small minority makes many people feel unsafe.”

We can only stop homophobic, biphobic and transphobic behaviour and language from happening in football by showing that it is not acceptable, at every level of the game.

We are dedicated to eradicating any forms of homophobic, biphobic or transphobic behaviour and making sure our club is a place where LGBT fans can be safe and accepted. We need everyone to stand with us as allies to LGBT people.

Follow Stonewall Scotland using @StonewallScot or get involved in the conversation on Twitter via #RainbowLaces.

You will also be able to buy on the night, as well as pick up some other Motherwell-related Christmas gifts.

Club

2017/18 financial results announced

Wednesday 28 November 2018

Motherwell Football Club has posted a record turnover and profit in its financial results for the year ending 31 May 2018.

In season 2017/18, the club achieved a Ladbrokes Premiership finish of seventh place and, for the first time in 67 years, reached both domestic cup finals.

The additional income from the runs to both the Betfred Cup and William Hill Scottish Cup finals, together with effective player trading, resulted in an unprecedented financial year for the club.

Turnover for the year increased significantly to £6.84m, a jump of £2.65m from the previous year. Despite an increase in costs, the club were able to produce a profit for the year of £1.72m, a record number, and a £1.9m jump from last year’s loss of £181,000.

There were notable increases in gate receipts, sponsorship and advertising, commercial and other associated income generated by the club, predominantly on the back of player trading.

There was also a modest increase in broadcasting rights, emanating from an improved league position.

The club, along with its fellow Premiership counterparts, continued to benefit from significant UEFA solidarity payments as a result of Celtic’s progression into the UEFA Champions League group stages in 2017/18. The payments received were in line with the previous year.

The club has continued to trade effectively in the transfer market, with yet more increased income from player trading, training compensation and sell-on fees.

A total of £1.03m was received, an improvement of £481,000 on the previous year. This came primarily from the sales of defender Ben Heneghan to Sheffield United and, in January, striker Louis Moult to Preston North End.

Costs for the year increased by £1.35m. Staff costs made up the majority of that increase on the previous year, through a combination of increased player bonuses in light of improved performance in both the league and domestic cups, a modest increase to the playing budget with a view to an improved position on the park and the introduction of Project Brave.

The latter brings the requirement for more full-time staff within the youth academy, ensuring the club retains its spot at the elite level of player development in Scottish football.

Other cost increases, for example across staff, stewarding, power, light and heating, reflect the increased workload from improved performance, with more games played at Fir Park.

The club has also invested significantly in improvements to the stadium, namely the full replacement of the old roof on the John Hunter Stand, the installation of a new scoreboard in the South Stand, as well as the upgrading, decorating and modernisation of the Davie Cooper, Centenary and Millennium Suites.

During the course of the 2017/18 season, the club also introduced a brand new online ticketing system, which launched in time for season ticket renewals in May, and commissioned the building of a new club website, launched shortly after year end.

In addition, the club continued to invest heavily in the playing surface, with the introduction of a hybrid grass/synthetic warm-up area behind both goals.

This, together with the investment in a talented staff group, has resulted in the Fir Park pitch being formally recognised as the best in the Scottish top flight, a much-improved position from several years ago.

The club has also reduced its debt owed to Mr John Boyle and Mr Les Hutchison by a combined £545,000 over the year.

Even with these results, the club still needs to look at its operating model to ensure its medium and long-term financial viability. The directors are carrying out a fundamental review of our finances to ensure that the club continues to operate in as financially prudent a manner as possible.

Shareholders are invited to attend the club’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Monday, 17 December 2018, starting at 7pm in the Millennium Suite, Fir Park.

Any shareholder who would wish either a printed or e mailed copy of the audited accounts please send a request to accounts@motherwellfc.co.uk or telephone 01698 338007 before close of business on Tuesday 11 December 2018.

Club

Win a Christmas night out on us

Wednesday 28 November 2018

Want to win free tickets for you and three of your friends to our Christmas party night on 21 December?

All you have to do is head to our Facebook page, like our post and tag the friends you would like to take along. We will pick a winner at random.

Normally priced at £35 per person, once you’ve had your glass of fizz on arrival our fantastic package includes a menu of:

Roast carrot, spiced butternut and lentil soup served with a crusty bread roll

After that, you can party the night away with our resident Christmas DJ.

Club

Grab a great Celtic hospitality offer

Wednesday 28 November 2018

Celtic are the next visitors to Fir Park on Wednesday, 5 December.

If you’re planning on taking in the match, there’s still time to book to do it in a bit more style with one of our fantastic hospitality offers.

Our offers are open to both sets of fans, with the exception of the Cooper Boxes, which are reserved for home fans exclusively.

Centenary Suite

Our Centenary Suite is the largest and busiest of our matchday hospitality lounge and sits adjacent to the tunnel and dressing room areas.

Our pay bar option is available from tables of two up to 12 or more, you will be welcomed by our matchday host, who will meet and greet you at the door before showing you to your table, where attentive staff offer a drinks service to your table, before you enjoy a fantastic meal.

Take out a warm-up top sponsorship

Player sponsorship is a fantastic opportunity to back your favourite player with a tailored sponsorship package.

The opportunity is perfect for both businesses and individuals or as a special gift to the ‘Well fan in your life. The package allows you to show your support for a particular first team player whilst receiving a comprehensive benefits package, including:

Acknowledgement in every match programme throughout the 2018/19 season

Your name/company name next to your chosen player on their website player profile

Invitation to attend end of the season player of the year awards night, where you will be able to mix and mingle with the first team squad